On the conflicting guidance, Open University senior lecturer in health and academic lawyer Marc Cornock added: ‘From a legal perspective, where guidance is available a nurse would need a very good reason to depart from it.

‘Where guidance is contradictory, the nurse has to use their professional judgement as to which to follow; this includes a regard for their own safety.’

When asked about the conflicting guidance, a Nursing and Midwifery Council spokesperson said nurses should confirm with their employer which guidelines they were working to during the pandemic and follow them.

An RCN spokesperson said nurses should use their professional judgement whether to provide CPR or not, taking into consideration the individual who needs resuscitation, the current situation and their local policy.

They said that ‘provided the registrant can justify their actions’ nurses should not face criticism and the RCN would support them.